Somewhere around mid-January, a flock of college students heads back to school, starts their new classes, and begin preparing for spring break. We saved up every paycheck we got over winter break, renewed our passports, booked our flights, and then the excitement sets in. Along with this excitement comes panic that you are definitely not bikini ready and you only have two or three short months to get there. Then comes the process of getting ready, with these five easy steps we will all be ready to hit the beach with our BFFs!

1. Motivation

You and your friends all decide to jump on that "new year, new you" bandwagon and buy a gym membership! You eat every meal together and hold each other accountable. Grilled chicken, rice, and a salad, every day for two months. I mean, it can't be that bad. Carbs don't even taste that good, right?

2. Falling Off

Boy were we wrong. Bread, pasta, and pizza are the greatest things to ever be invented. One cheat day turns to seven. Your gym rat selfies on Instagram go from being posted seven days a week to two days per week, and your Netflix cue finally begins to clear out.

3. Denial

You put on that new swimsuit and look in the mirror, you don't look that bad. You rock that bikini, actually. Who even told you that you didn't look good in the first place? Oh, right, you did. You look awesome, and so do your friends. Time to text them and focus on being excited for all the memories rather than stressing about if you look like a beach goddess or a beached whale.

4. Crunch Time

Your flight leaves two weeks from today, it's time to start deciding what you will wear every day. And then it hits you: you have nothing to wear! But let's be honest, you probably won't ever leave the beach so a couple swimsuits will be fine, right?

5. Giving Up

You know what, you are going on a trip with your closest friends, and you are going to have a blast regardless of how you look. As long as you feel comfortable struttin' your stuff like you're in an episode of "Baywatch," then you do you. Just remember to have fun, stay hydrated, make memories, and be safe!